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Vehicle surrounding display deviceVehicle surrounding display device description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070120656, Vehicle surrounding display device. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle surrounding display device, and more particularly to a vehicle surrounding display device which selectively displays at least two types of images in the vicinity of a vehicle, and informs a driver of a positional relationship between the vehicle and an obstacle. BACKGROUND ART [0002] Conventionally, a vehicle surrounding display device as described above (hereinafter, referred to as a conventional display device) includes a plurality of imaging devices, a plurality of laser range finders, a solid virtual section, an image converting section, and an image display section. [0003] The plurality of imaging devices are mounted on a vehicle 1 and these imaging devices image an environment in the vicinity of the vehicle 1. The plurality of laser range finders measure distances to objects within view fields (subjects of the imaging device) from the laser range finders. One imaging device and one laser range finder are disposed in the vicinity of each other. [0004] The solid virtual section is operable to obtain a distance image (see an upper left image of FIG. 18) within the view field based on distance information from the laser range finder, and to recognize objects within the view field based on an original image (see an upper right image of FIG. 18) imaged by the aforementioned imaging device. Based on the two pieces of image information which are the original image and the distance image, and the information about the recognized objects, a three-dimensional field of view is reproduced by simulating an invisible portion of the objects, which cannot be captured by the imaging device. [0005] The three-dimensional information reproduced by solid virtual means is sent to the image converting section. As shown in a lower image of FIG. 18, based on the received three-dimensional information, the image converting section generates a bird's eye view which appears to be imaged by a virtual camera which is set to be virtually mounted above the vehicle. The bird's eye view represents a view of the vehicle and its surroundings seen from an appropriate viewpoint at the side of the vehicle, and is displayed by the image display section. [0006] Alternatively, viewpoints for the bird's eye view are set at two points diagonal to the upper right and the upper left of the vehicle, respectively. The bird's eye view imaged from either viewpoint is selectively displayed. In this case, the viewpoints for the bird's eye view are switched to each other in accordance with a steering angle of the vehicle. [0007] [Patent document 1] Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication 7-17328 DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention [0008] As described above, the conventional display device displays a bird's eye view seen from a virtual camera which is set to be virtually mounted above a vehicle. Therefore, when the vehicle comes in close proximity to an obstacle, the obstacle will enter a dead zone generated by the vehicle, whereby there has been a problem that a driver has a difficulty in visually recognizing the obstacle. [0009] Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle surrounding display device capable of displaying images such that a driver can visually recognize an obstacle more easily. Solution to the Problems [0010] To achieve the above objects, a first aspect of the present invention is directed to a vehicle surrounding display device which selectively displays at least two types of images in a vicinity of a vehicle. The vehicle surrounding display device comprises a measurement section for measuring a distance and a direction from the vehicle to an obstacle in the vicinity of the vehicle; a comparison section for comparing the distance measured by the measurement section with a predetermined threshold value; a viewpoint determination section for determining a predetermined first viewpoint when a comparison result generated by the comparison section indicates that the measured distance is larger than the threshold value, and for determining a second viewpoint based on the direction measured by the measurement section when the comparison result generated by the comparison section indicates that the measured distance is not larger than the threshold value; an image generating section for generating, when receiving the first viewpoint from the viewpoint determination section, a first image representing a view in the vicinity of the vehicle as seen from the received first viewpoint, and for generating, when receiving the second viewpoint from the viewpoint determination section, a second image representing a view of the vehicle and the obstacle as seen from an area in the vicinity of the received second viewpoint; and a display section for displaying one of the first image and the second image generated by the image generating section. [0011] A second aspect of the present invention is directed to a vehicle surrounding display method for causing a display device to selectively display at least two types of images in a vicinity of a vehicle. The vehicle surrounding display method comprises a measurement step of measuring a distance and a direction from the vehicle to an obstacle in the vicinity of the vehicle; a comparison step of comparing the distance measured by the measurement section with a predetermined threshold value; a first viewpoint determination step of determining a predetermined first viewpoint when a result received from the comparison step indicates that the measured distance is larger than the threshold value; a first image generating step of generating a first image representing a view in the vicinity of the vehicle as seen from the first viewpoint determined by the first viewpoint determination step; a first display step of displaying the first image generated by the first image generating step; a second viewpoint determination step of determining a second viewpoint based on the distance measured by the measurement step when a result received from the comparison step indicates that the measured distance is not larger than the threshold value; a second image generating step of generating a second image representing a view of the vehicle and the obstacle as seen from an area in the vicinity of the second viewpoint determined by the second viewpoint determination step; and a second display step of displaying the second image generated by the second image generating step. [0012] A third aspect of the present invention is directed to a computer program for causing a display device to selectively display at least two types of images in a vicinity of a vehicle. The computer program comprises a measurement step of measuring a distance and a direction from the vehicle to an obstacle in the vicinity of the vehicle; a comparison step of comparing the distance measured by the measurement section with a predetermined threshold value; a first viewpoint determination step of determining a predetermined first viewpoint when a result received from the comparison step indicates that the measured distance is larger than the threshold value; a first image generating step of generating a first image representing a view in the vicinity of the vehicle as seen from the first viewpoint determined by the first viewpoint determination step; a first display step of displaying the first image generated by the first image generating step; a second viewpoint determination step of determining a second viewpoint based on the distance measured by the measurement step when a result received from the comparison step indicates that the measured distance is not larger than the threshold value; a second image generating step of generating a second image representing a view of the vehicle and the obstacle as seen from an area in the vicinity of the second viewpoint determined by the second viewpoint determination step; and a second display step of displaying the second image generated by the second image generating step. [0013] In the respective aspects described above, the first viewpoint and the second viewpoint are represented by three-dimensional coordinate values, respectively, a horizontal direction component of the second viewpoint is larger than a horizontal direction component of the first viewpoint, and a vertical direction component of the second viewpoint is smaller than a vertical direction component of the first viewpoint. [0014] In the respective aspects described above, the three-dimensional coordinates of the first viewpoint are set at a point which is above the vehicle, and the three-dimensional coordinates of the second viewpoint are set at a point having a predetermined depression angle which is formed between the horizontal plane and a line extending from the second viewpoint in a direction of the vehicle and the obstacle. [0015] In the respective aspects described above, the second viewpoint is set at a point contained in a vertical plane orthogonal to a line between the vehicle and the obstacle. [0016] In the respective aspects described above, the vertical plane is a plane which perpendicularly bisects the line between the vehicle and the obstacle. [0017] In the respective aspects described above, whether the vehicle is capable of moving without contacting the obstacle is determined. When it is determined that the vehicle is capable of moving without contacting the obstacle, a display section displays a third image different from the second image. [0018] In one example, a height of the obstacle is measured, and whether the vehicle is capable of moving without contacting the obstacle is determined based on the measured height of the obstacle. [0019] In another example, a steering angle of the vehicle is detected, and whether the vehicle is capable of moving without contacting the obstacle is determined based on the detected steering angle of the vehicle. Continue reading about Vehicle surrounding display device... Full patent description for Vehicle surrounding display device Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Vehicle surrounding display device patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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